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I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago when I got laid off from my manufacturing job and started doing DoorDash and Instacart to make ends meet. You can absolutely file for unemployment while doing part-time gig work! Here's what I wish I had known from the start: 1) Apply TODAY - seriously, don't wait another day because there's a waiting week and you're missing out on money, 2) When you do your weekly certification, report the gross amount DoorDash pays you (before they take their service fees), 3) Keep screenshots of your weekly earnings summaries - I save mine to Google Drive every Sunday, 4) The benefit reduction formula is actually pretty fair - with your $200-300/week you should still get a solid partial payment. I was making similar amounts from gig work and still got around $320/week in partial benefits. The hardest part honestly is navigating the weekly certification questions about self-employment, but once you get the hang of it it's straightforward. Also don't forget you still need to do your work search activities even though you're dashing - gig work doesn't count toward that requirement. The whole process was way less stressful than I built it up to be in my head. You've got this!
This is incredibly helpful - thank you for breaking it down so clearly! I've been putting off applying because I wasn't sure how the gig work would affect things, but hearing that you got $320/week in partial benefits on top of similar gig earnings makes me feel much better about the whole situation. I'm definitely going to apply today like you said. One quick question - when you mention keeping screenshots in Google Drive, did you organize them in any particular way that made it easier if you ever needed to reference them? I want to make sure I'm setting up a good system from the start.
Yes! I organize my screenshots by month in separate folders - like "DoorDash Jan 2024", "DoorDash Feb 2024", etc. Each screenshot I name with the date like "DD_earnings_Jan15-21_2024.png" so I can quickly find specific weeks if needed. I also keep a simple spreadsheet with weekly totals just in case. It only takes a minute each week but saved me so much stress when I had questions about my claim later. The key is being consistent about it from week one!
I was in your exact situation a few months ago - laid off from my plumbing job and started doing DoorDash while job hunting. You can definitely file for unemployment while doing gig work part-time! The system is set up to handle partial unemployment situations like yours. Here's what worked for me: Apply immediately - don't wait because you're losing potential benefits every week due to the waiting period. When you certify each week, report your GROSS DoorDash earnings (the full amount before DoorDash takes their cut). Keep good records - I screenshot my weekly earnings summary every Sunday. With your $200-300/week from DoorDash, you should still qualify for partial benefits that will help bridge the gap while you look for full-time work. The benefit reduction isn't dollar-for-dollar, so it's definitely worth applying. Also remember you'll still need to complete work search activities since gig work doesn't count toward that requirement. The whole process was way less complicated than I expected once I understood how to properly report the self-employment income. Don't overthink it - just apply and be honest about everything!
This is really reassuring to hear from someone with a similar trade background! I was worried that doing DoorDash might somehow disqualify me completely, but it sounds like the partial unemployment system actually works pretty well for people in our situation. I'm going to apply today - you're absolutely right that I'm just losing money by waiting. Quick question though - when you were doing your work search activities, did you find it challenging to balance that with the DoorDash schedule, or were you able to manage both pretty easily?
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I went through something similar a few years back. Got disqualified initially but was able to file a new claim when I got laid off from my next job. One thing that helped me was keeping all the paperwork from my layoff - the WARN notice, any emails about the company restructuring, etc. Having that documentation ready made the process smoother when they reviewed my claim. Also, don't stress too much about the previous disqualification - like others said, they really focus on your most recent job separation. Good luck!
This is really helpful advice about keeping documentation! I actually do have the layoff notice and some emails from HR about the company downsizing. It sounds like having that paperwork ready will definitely help my case. Thanks for sharing your experience - it makes me feel more confident about filing the new claim.
I'm actually going through the exact same situation right now! I was disqualified about 8 months ago (they said I was terminated for misconduct which was bogus) and just got laid off last month. I filed my new claim last week and it went through without any issues so far. The online application didn't even ask about previous claims - it just focused on my work history and reason for separation from my most recent job. Since you were laid off, that's definitely a qualifying reason. I'd say go ahead and file as soon as possible because there's usually a waiting period anyway. Don't let the previous disqualification psych you out!
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One thing to add - make sure you understand the difference between "accepting" a job offer and actually starting work. I learned the hard way that you can accept an offer on Monday but if you don't start until the following week, you're still unemployed for that entire week and should file your claim. The key date is when you actually begin working and earning wages, not when you shake hands on the deal. Also, keep all your paperwork (offer letter, start date confirmation, etc.) in case NYS Department of Labor ever needs to verify your timeline.
This is really helpful! I was worried I might have to stop filing the moment I verbally accepted an offer, even if I wouldn't start for another week or two. Good to know it's based on the actual start date. I'll definitely keep all my paperwork organized - sounds like documentation is key if there are ever any questions later.
Just to add another perspective - I went through this transition last year and one thing that really helped was calling NYS Department of Labor the day before I started my new job to confirm I was handling everything correctly. The agent walked me through exactly how to file my final partial week claim and made sure I understood the reporting requirements. Even though the wait time was long, it gave me peace of mind knowing I was doing everything by the book. Also, keep detailed records of your job search activities and any work you do - NYS Department of Labor can request this information during audits, and having everything documented makes the process much smoother if they ever need to review your case.
That's really smart advice about calling the day before starting work! I never thought about doing that but it makes total sense to get confirmation directly from them. How long did you typically wait on hold when you called? I've heard horror stories about people waiting hours to get through to NYS Department of Labor. Also, what kind of job search activity records did they want to see during your audit? I want to make sure I'm keeping the right documentation.
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Wow, this thread is incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with the exact same address update situation right now and was getting so frustrated with the NYSDOL website. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me a clear action plan. I'm going to fax my documents to (518) 457-9378 first thing tomorrow morning, making sure to write "ADDRESS CHANGE REQUEST" at the top and include my claim number on every page. I'll send both my lease and utility bill together as suggested. The tip about using Claimyr to follow up is genius - I never would have thought of that. It's amazing how much more useful this community discussion is than anything on the official website. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences and solutions!
You've got a solid plan, Mei-Ling! One small addition to consider - when you fax tomorrow morning, try to keep your fax confirmation receipt handy when you use Claimyr to follow up. I've found that having the exact transmission time and confirmation number really helps when talking to the agents. They can look up your fax more easily in their system. Also, if your utility bill is more than 30 days old, you might want to grab a more recent one if possible - some people have mentioned they prefer current documents. Good luck with your submission tomorrow!
I'm new to this community but had to jump in because I just went through this exact nightmare last month! The fax number (518) 457-9378 that everyone mentioned absolutely works, but here's what I wish someone had told me upfront: make sure your documents are crystal clear when you scan/fax them. My first attempt was rejected because my electric bill was too blurry to read the address properly. I had to rescan everything at higher quality and resend. Also, if you're like me and don't have a fax machine at home, I found that FedEx Office locations have really good fax quality compared to some other places I tried. The whole process took me about 8 days total once I got it right, but my benefits were restored retroactively so I didn't lose any payments. Hang in there - this community's advice really works!
That's such an important detail about document clarity! I was just about to fax my documents and probably would have made the same mistake. It's frustrating that they don't give you clear guidelines about image quality requirements upfront. Thanks for the tip about FedEx Office having better fax quality - I was planning to use the library but might switch to FedEx now. It's also really reassuring to know that benefits get restored retroactively once everything is processed. Eight days total isn't too bad considering all the horror stories I've heard. Really appreciate you sharing the quality tip - that could save me from having to do this whole process twice!
Yuki Watanabe
I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - been waiting 5 weeks for my seasonal landscaping unemployment to process. What's really frustrating is that I've been doing seasonal work for 3 years and never had these kinds of delays before. Something definitely changed with their system this year. Has anyone had luck with the online chat feature? I noticed they added it recently but every time I try to use it, it says "all agents are busy" and never connects me to anyone. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get my claim moving. Also wanted to mention for anyone filing in the future - make sure you have your employer's federal tax ID number ready. I didn't have mine when I first applied and had to call my old boss to get it, which probably contributed to my delays. They use it to verify your work history automatically instead of having to wait for employer responses.
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Aurora Lacasse
•I've had the same experience with the online chat - it never actually connects you to anyone real. It's basically useless from what I can tell. The system definitely seems more backed up this year compared to previous years. That's a great tip about having the employer's federal tax ID ready! I had to scramble to find mine too and it definitely slowed things down. For anyone reading this, you can usually find it on your W-2 or paystubs if you still have them, or sometimes on the employer's website. Much easier than trying to track down your old boss weeks later when you're already stressed about delayed payments. Five weeks is really excessive though - have you tried that Claimyr service that others mentioned? At this point it might be worth the cost just to get through to someone who can actually move your claim forward.
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Camila Jordan
I'm going through something similar right now - worked at a waterfront restaurant that closed for the winter season in November, and I've been waiting almost 4 weeks for my first payment. Reading through all these responses has been really eye-opening about the seasonal work complications. I think I made the same mistake as Ethan - I probably didn't clearly mark my work as seasonal when I filed, and I definitely didn't know about that buried "seasonal work patterns" question that Jean Claude mentioned. That would explain why my claim is stuck in review limbo. The advice about getting a letter from your employer beforehand is brilliant - wish I had thought of that. And the tip about having the federal tax ID ready is something I'll definitely remember. I had to email my old manager to get employment verification info, which probably added to my delays. At this point I'm seriously considering trying that Claimyr service. It's frustrating that we have to pay extra just to access benefits we're entitled to, but if it actually works and gets me connected to someone who can resolve this, it might be worth it. The regular phone system is completely impossible - I've tried calling probably 20+ times and never gotten through to a human. Has anyone else noticed if certain times of day work better for getting through? I've been trying mostly afternoons but maybe I should try those early morning slots that Amara suggested.
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Sydney Torres
•I'm in almost the exact same situation! Worked at a seasonal beach club that closed in October and I've been waiting about 3 weeks for my first payment. Reading all these responses has been super helpful - I definitely didn't mark my work as seasonal properly either, and I had no idea about all these specific requirements and hidden questions. The early morning calling strategy is worth trying - I've been calling randomly throughout the day with no luck, but Amara's tip about 8 AM on Tuesdays/Wednesdays makes sense. There's probably way less call volume then compared to afternoons when everyone's frustrated and trying to get through. I'm also considering the Claimyr service at this point. It does feel wrong that we have to pay to access our own benefits, but if it actually works and saves weeks of stress, it might be the most practical solution. Especially since rent and bills don't wait for the DOL to fix their phone system! Let me know if you end up trying it or if the early morning calling works for you. We seasonal workers need to stick together and share what actually works to get through this broken system.
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